China-Russia exchange week opens in Harbin with canoe invitational

The 2026 China-Russia Sports and Cultural Exchange Week kicked off on Saturday at the Hulan Estuary Wetland Park in Harbin, Heilongjiang province.

Following the opening ceremony, the third China-Russia Canoe Invitational Race commenced in the waters of the park, with categories for Men's Elite, Men's Masters, and Women's Open, attracting 182 athletes from both countries.

Through fierce competition, the athletes from China and Russia developed a friendship and understanding.

Accompanying the ongoing 10th China-Russia Expo, this year's exchange week includes a record five events, including the China-Russia Canoe Invitational Race, China-Russia Handball Match, China-Russia Jump Rope Exchange Camp, China-Russia Youth Team Chess Tournament, and China-Russia Rugby Invitational Match.

The exchange week attracted teams from Russia's Amur Oblast, Primorsky Krai, and Khabarovsk Krai, with approximately 229 Russian athletes participating.

The total number of participants from both countries reached 562.

The China-Russia Sports Exchange Week has been held for six consecutive years, becoming an important platform for mutual learning through sports and cultural integration between the neighboring countries.